Home Selling: All It Takes Is One

From the moment we started interviewing prospective realtors for the sale of our house, my husband and I heard the constant refrain- all it takes is one. This simple statement is obvious. We needed one buyer who would fall in love with our home.

The big question remained. What resources would our realtor use to connect with prospective buyers? Decades ago, when we were looking to purchase our first home, we waited patiently for the weekly real estate section in the local newspaper. Nowadays, social media has become the driving force for publicizing real estate listings. Details regarding properties are loaded instantly onto the Internet. There is usually only a minor wait time before the listing is available to anyone searching for a house that matches the criteria.

Prospective buyers can peruse a variety of real estate sites. Realtor websites, Zillow, Trulia, the local MLS site, and Realtor.com tend to top the list. If an individual pursues a more intensive search, there are considerably more options. What is your favorite site?

Realtors and homeowners can post dozens of pictures along with pertinent data. The accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed nor can the estimate of the current value of a home be assured. Despite some of these inadequacies, people searching for a new home can gain an overview of the marketplace. These sites can create interest in a home and at the same time rule out places that fall short of one’s wish list.

The quality of photos varies from property to property. Some listings provide a comprehensive overview of the home while others leave viewers with a host of questions. Wide angled lenses will make some rooms look much larger than the actual space.

Curbside appeal can be a deciding factor. It is similar to people who pick a book by its cover. Even though book covers and curbside appeal can give you an inkling of what is inside, neither is an absolute predictor of the total package. Sometimes an amazing lot has a mediocre home while other times a sensational house sits on a nondescript piece of property.

The cover of a book and the outside of a home only portray part of the story. Buyers need to research their options and then see which homes should be visited in person. After viewing a variety of homes, the pros and cons of each home need to be evaluated. Every buyer should consult their wish list.

The challenging part of the equation for the seller is finding the one buyer who shares one’s likes and dislikes. What is attractive to a seller may or may not be appreciated by a total stranger. Doesn’t everyone think that their house is the best on the block? A seller can only wait patiently. At times I feel like I am back in elementary school waiting to be picked for a kickball team. As others were chosen and I remained seated on the bench, I became more anxious. I have the same apprehensions as I wait for a home buyer.

So many factors determine whether the waiting period is short or long. It is impossible to predict. Stress levels need to be monitored throughout the process. Eventually a compatible buyer will walk through the front door. The wait will be over. An offer will be made. The price and the extras will be negotiated. A contract will be signed. The realtor’s initial comment will once again resurface. The adage, all it takes is one will have become a reality.

If you moved in the last year, did you use the Internet as a search tool? If so, how well did the websites match up with what you saw in person?

Is social media an effective tool for buying and selling a home?

If you sold a home within the last year, how long was your home on the market before it went under contract?

Sandra’s memoir highlights her living and teaching adventure in Bangalore, India. She is a licensed Colorado teacher who has taught K-12 students in the United States and abroad as well as college level courses. Sandra is married and has four adult sons.

The memoir was a finalist in the Travel category for the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the 2013 International Book Awards, the 2013 National Indie Book Excellence Awards and a Honorable Mention award in the Multicultural Non-Fiction category for the 2013 Global ebook Awards.